Apparatus for determining range and bearing
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determination of range and bearing, comprising:
- (a) first means, for operation at a first location, for transmitting an acoustic interrogating signal;
(b) second means, for operation at a second location, responsive to said interrogating signal to, in turn,(i) transmit a first response signal upon receipt of said interrogating signal, and(ii) transmit a second response signal at a time after transmission of said first response signal, where said time is a function of the bearing between said first and second locations;
(c)(i) said first means including means for generating range and bearing information in response to receipt of said first and second response signals;
(d) said second means including(i) first and second hydrophones spaced apart by a distance of approximately λ
/2, where λ
is the wavelength of said interrogating signal, and each operable to provide an output signal in response to impingement of said interrogating signal;
(ii) a phase meter responsive to said hydrophone output signals and operable to provide an output signal indicative of the phase difference between them, said phase difference being related to the direction of impingement of said interrogating signal;
(iii) means for translating said phase meter output signal to a corresponding time delay;
(iv) means for generating said first response signal in response to said impingement of said interrogating signal; and
(v) means for generating said second response signal after said time delay.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus which provides both range and bearing information between a transponder and a transponder interrogator. The interrogator transmits an acoustic interrogating pulse which is received by the transponder and in response thereto transmits back a first signal of a certain frequency f1. Two spaced apart hydrophones on the transponder provide their respective output signals to a phase meter, the output signal of which is indicative of the direction, that is, bearing, from which the interrogating pulse impinged. The phase meter output is converted to a corresponding time delay after which a second signal of a frequency f2 is transmitted. A counter in the interrogator starts counting upon transmission of the interrogating pulse and stops upon reception of the first signal of frequency f1. A second counter of the interrogator starts its count when the first counter turns off and terminates its count when the second signal f2 is received. The count in the first counter is converted to a corresponding range display and the count in the second counter is converted to a corresponding bearing display.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determination of range and bearing, comprising:
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(a) first means, for operation at a first location, for transmitting an acoustic interrogating signal; (b) second means, for operation at a second location, responsive to said interrogating signal to, in turn, (i) transmit a first response signal upon receipt of said interrogating signal, and (ii) transmit a second response signal at a time after transmission of said first response signal, where said time is a function of the bearing between said first and second locations; (c) (i) said first means including means for generating range and bearing information in response to receipt of said first and second response signals; (d) said second means including (i) first and second hydrophones spaced apart by a distance of approximately λ
/2, where λ
is the wavelength of said interrogating signal, and each operable to provide an output signal in response to impingement of said interrogating signal;(ii) a phase meter responsive to said hydrophone output signals and operable to provide an output signal indicative of the phase difference between them, said phase difference being related to the direction of impingement of said interrogating signal; (iii) means for translating said phase meter output signal to a corresponding time delay; (iv) means for generating said first response signal in response to said impingement of said interrogating signal; and (v) means for generating said second response signal after said time delay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification